A dispute between a tenant and his landlord in El Cajon culminated in an alleged act of arson last Friday night. Earlier in the afternoon, police had been called to the scene following the initial confrontation, wherein the tenant had locked himself in his room and claimed he intended to sleep. His roommates opted to spend the night elsewhere, according to statements made to the police, who at that time did not file any charges as no crime seemed to have occurred.
Come nightfall, however, the situation escalated. The El Cajon Police Department (EPD) and Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the same address, where they discovered the tenant's room ablaze. Two other roommates were in the house when first responders arrived, but they were not injured. The tenant, identified as Jose Orozco, was not on the premises during the fire.
In an ongoing investigation, El Cajon detectives, assisted by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), located Orozco later on. According to a news release by the City of El Cajon, officers found a makeshift incendiary device — a plastic bottle with gasoline and a rag wick — in Orozco's vehicle, leading to his arrest on charges of arson and possession of a destructive device.
The El Cajon Police Department has released Orozco's history of arrests, which includes assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, DUI, auto theft, and drug offenses. The EPD encourages anyone with more information about the incident to contact them at 619-579-3311 or submit tips via Crime Stoppers at their website, www.sdcrimestoppers.org.
